CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A man tried to create a diversion on
Tuesday by telling police he had been shot by his wife, when in reality he was
robbing a bank at gunpoint, police said.

Chester Township Police Chief Mark Purchase said his officers and federal
agents are still searching for the man accused of robbing the Chase Bank in the
West Geauga Plaza about 1:50 p.m. The man, police said, covered himself in a scarf, hat
and mask and robbed the bank. No one was injured during the robbery.

Purchase said the man called police about 1:50 p.m. and said
his wife had just shot him on Sand Gate Drive and that his wife was acting
"crazy."

Purchase said officers responded but began questioning the
validity of the report shortly after. About seven minutes later, Purchase said, someone called
9-1-1 and said someone had just robbed the Chase Bank in the plaza off
Chillicothe and Mayfield roads.

Purchase said the man is described as about 6-feet tall, 220
pounds, with a medium build. He was wearing jeans and a gray hooded
sweatshirt at the time of the robbery, Purchase said.

A photo released by police shows the man standing at the
counter wearing a hat, a scarf covering his lower face and sunglasses covering
his eyes. The man is also holding a handgun in the photo.

The suspect also is believed to be driving a light-colored
minivan, Purchase said.

Anyone with information on this incident or the man's
whereabouts are being asked to call Chester Township police at 440-729-1239, or
the Painesville FBI office at 440-354-9927.

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